ML20197H383

Request to Withdraw License Renewal Application on Condition That Application Be Made to Decommission

ML20197H383
Person / Time
Site:	05000142
Issue date:	06/14/1984
From:	Cormier W CALIFORNIA, UNIV. OF, LOS ANGELES, CA
To:
References
NUDOCS 8406180403
Download: ML20197H383 (6)

Text

705 4

8g fk' 'Q Y

lg

& NO:qp 4:. .

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BEFORE THE ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD

-In the Matter of Docket No. 50-142 THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY (Proposed Renewal of Facility 0F CALIFORNIA ) License Number R-71)

)

(UCLA Research Reactor) ) June 14, 1984

)

UNIVERSITY'S REQUEST TO WITHDRAW APPLICATION 4

4 DONALD L. REIDHAAR GLENN R. WOODS CHRISTINE HELWICK 590 University Hall 2200 University Avenue Berkeley, California 94720 Telephone: (415)642-2822 Attorneys for Applicant-THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 8406180403 840614 ja+= "A*oi! m 95o3

. I. REQUEST TO WITHDRAW APPLICATION University hereby requests that the Board, pursuant to 10 CFR 52.107, approve University's request that the UCLA license renewal l application be withdrawn on condition that the UCLA reactor remain out l of operation and that application be made to the Comission to decommission '.he reactor.

3 II. DISCUSSION UCLA Chancellor Young's letter of this date to Commission Chairman Palladino (attached hereto) informs the Commission that University has decided to withdraw its UCLA license renewal application and to seek to decommission the UCLA research reactor. Section2.107(a) of the Comission's rules of practice provides that withdrawal of an application after issuance of a notice of hearing shall be on such terms as the pres'i ding officer may prescribe. Section 50.82 provides that a lecensee may apply to the Commission to surrender a license voluntarily-and to dismantle the facility and dispose of its component parts.

As the Board is aware, the UCLA reactor has been out of operation due to a maintenance problem for several months. Faced with the major maintenance effort that would be required to correct the problem and return the reactor to operation, University has re-examined the academic value of its fission reactor program relative to the costs of operation. As a result of that evaluation University has decided to discontinue the program.' University will seek' the assistance of the NRC Staff in initiating decommissioning actions. Under these circumstances,

l

• conditioning the withdrawal of the application on the terms described above is appropriate.

Dated: June 14, 198/..

DONALD L. REIDHAAR GLENN R. WOODS CHRISTINE HELWICK By WILLIAM H. CORMIER Representing UCLA i

)

4 4

1 1

e s

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES UCLA y.

BERKELEY

• DAVIS

• IRVINE

• LO5 ANCELES

• Rn ER$1DE

• S AN DRECO a SAN FR4NC15CO

/Y 3

S.

SANTA BARBARA

• SANTA CRL'Z l

- [0

> y' i OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR LOS ANCELES,CAUFORNIA 900S4 .

June 14, 1984 Mr. Nunzio J. Palladino, Chairman Office of the Commissioner U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555

Dear Commissioner Palladino:

I write to inform you that I have decided to withdraw the application for renewal of the license for the UCLA research reactor (Docket No. 50-142; License No. R-71), currently pending before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, and intend to initiate steps to decommission the reactor. I have today informed the Board of Regents of the University of California of this decision, and have asked the University's attorneys to terminate the relicensing proceeo'ngs.

My decision to decommission the reactor four years after submitting an application for license renewal was reached .4fter extensive consultation with academic administrators on the campus, and solely as a result of our examination of the changed circumstances affecting the academic benefits and escalating costs of continued operation of the reactor facility. The use of the fission reactor by the School of Engiaeering and Applied Science at UCLA for teaching and research purposes has declined in the years since we filed for license renewal. During this same period the costs of the reactor have risen dramatically. We have also had to take into account uncertainties in the future of research reactor programs. In the last several months the Commission seems to have moved rapidly in the direction of requiring research reactor facilities to convert from the use of high-enrichment uranium to low-enrichment fuel, with associated costs that are, at present, unknown.

The timing of our review of the fission reactor program and decision to deconnaission is related to the appointment, last summer, of a new Dean of Engineering, who has had to reevaluate the School's programs and priorities in light of available resources, and the current maintenance status of the reactor. As we recently informed the Commission, the UCLA reactor is out of operation, pending correction of a sticking control blade. Correction of the problem will require disassembly of the reactor core, and prudence dictates that we reach a decision on the future of the reactor now, before committing personnel and resources to such a major maintenance effort. We have concluded that the potential expense of maintenance, fuel conversion (perhaps involving another relicensing proceeding), and ongoing operation of the reactor simply cannot be justified in light of its declining importance to our academic programs.

.S i bN f 4'

P

• Mr. Nunzio Palladino, Chairman June 14,1984 I regret that a final resolution by the Licensing Board of all the issues raised in the proceedings has not been obtained. . Nonetheless, we are pleased to note that the technical staff of the Commission, which over the past several years has exhaustively reviewed our license renewal application, concluded in its published evaluations that the UCLA reactor has been operated safely throughout its 24-year history and would be expected to do so during the proposed renewal period.

We appreciate the assistance and cooperation of the staff of the Commission, particularly during the relicensing period, and look forward to working with them in carrying out a decommissioning plan.

Sincerely, Charles E. Young Chancellor cc: Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 4

-w w ~ g r-

i .

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY C0!HISSION BEFORE THE ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD In the Matter of Docket No. 50-142 THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY (Proposed Renewal of Facility 0F CALIFORNIA ) License Number R-71)

(UCLA Research Reactor)

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that copies of the attached: UNIVERSITY'S REQUEST TO WITHDRAW APPLICATION in the above-captioned proceeding have been served on the following by_

deposit in the United States vil, first. class, postage' prepaid, addressed as indicated, on this date: June 14, 1984 .

~

• John H. Frye, III, Chairman Mr. Daniel Hirsch Administrative Judge Cte. to Bridge the Gap ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD 1637 Butler Avenue, #203 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Coanission Los Angeles, CA 90025 Washington, D.C. 20555

• Mr. John H. Bay, Esq.

• Dr. Emmeth A. Luebke Chickering & Gregory Administrative Judge Three Embarcadero Center ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD Suite 2300 i U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission San Francisco, CA 94111 Washington, D.C. 20555 Mr. Daniel Hirsch

.

• Mr. Glenn 0. Bright

. Box 1186

Administrative Judge Ben Lomond, CA 95005 ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Nuclear Law Center Washington, D.C. 20555 c/o Dorothy Thompson 6300 Wilshire Blvd., #1200

• Counsel for the NRC St;/f Los Angeles, CA 90048 0FFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE LEGAL DIRECTOR U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Ms. Lynn G. Na11 boff Washington, D.C. 20555 Deputy City Attorney Attn: Ms. Colleen P. Woodhead City Hall 1685 Main Street

• Chief,DocketingandServiceSection(3) Santa Monica, CA 90401 0FFICE OF THE SECRETARY U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington, D.C. 20555 -

• BY EXPRESS MAIL h -

WILLIAM H. CORMIER Representing UCLA THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

. - _ _ ,_